December 13, 1974
Page 39812
Mr. MUSKIE. Will the Senator yield?
Mr. McINTYRE. I am happy to yield to my distinguished colleague from Maine.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I compliment the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire for making the case that he is making.
I recall that in 1959 when I came to the Senate, I first became aware of the problems of the shoe industry in our part of the country.
The penetration of the American market by foreign importation was, as the Senator described, less than 5 percent. That penetration has now risen to the figure of 40 percent, to which he has referred.
I recall the debate on the trade bill of 1962. At that time, with the trend running against the domestic industry, we undertook to amend the provisions of the 1962 legislation in such a way that we would trigger the adjustment assistance provisions of that act as import competition rose. So an amendment was attached to the bill.
Yet in the 12 years that have passed, notwithstanding the fact that the penetration of the market has risen from 5 percent to 40 percent, the Tariff Commission has absolutely refused to recognize that this kind of penetration has resulted in the kind of injury which would trigger the adjustment assistance provisions of the 1962 act.
So those provisions, for all practical purposes, have been meaningless. So I join in my support the Senator's amendment today.
I compliment him on it and I compliment him for making the case which he is making.
Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. President, let me thank my colleague from Maine.